Inhibition of ion transport in Ehrlich cells by muzolimine

The influence of muzolimine on the transport of Na+, K+ and Cl- was studied in Ehrlich cells to test whether the diuretic inhibits the furosemide-sensitive Na+-K+-2 Cl-(-)cotransport or transport via the ouabain-sensitive Na+/K+-pump. It was shown that between 10(-5) M and 10(-3) M muzolimine pump-flux decreases with increasing drug concentration (IC50 about 0.5 mM), in contrast to the unaffected cotransport. This reduction in pump rate is only seen with respiring cells, but not during glycolytic ATP-production. Therefore, muzolimine seems to inhibit the Na+/K+-pump not directly but indirectly by interference with energy metabolism resulting in decreased ATP concentration. This reduction in ATP-level is at least partially due to activation of an ATP-consuming process of unknown nature. Whether muzolimine also inhibits respiration was not tested.